It is true that the most populous countries like India and the developing countries of Africa need to bring about instant economic growth that meets the demand of their people. However, environmental protection should take precedence over just economic growth. This can be achieved by developing and implementing green economy strategies (e.g. development of renewable energy and green infrastructures, and flourishing environmentally friendly economic sectors) while preserving and restoring the ecosystem. Otherwise, things will end in misery if we only focus on addressing the current demand and jeopardizing the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. In the worst case, we may not meet the immediate targets of economic growth plan and the situation may lead us to “tragedy of the commons” as argued by Hardin (1968).

Dr Kahsay Gebretensae thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Whether we can deevelop along with protecting our environment or not, but one thing is clear we won't be able to develop without protecting our environment as we won't be able to survive ourselves.

Dr Jaswinder Sandhu thank you for your contribution to the discussion

The natural environment is central to economic activity and growth, providing the resources we need to produce goods and services, and absorbing and processing unwanted by-products in the form of pollution and waste. Development and conservation of nature can go hand in hand by practicing sustainable development. Any development work is carried out with thorough research aiming at protecting the environment can be a win-win situation for both economic growth and environment protection. Rather than pitting one priority against the other, they seek solutions that integrate economic development with environmental conservation. This might involve designing projects that utilize renewable resources, promote energy efficiency, or implement green infrastructure. Achieving economic growth rather than implementing environmental policies is to be preferred because growth is perceived to be able to reach both economic and environmental goals, while environmental policy may actually impede growth. Some of the possible ways to balance economic growth and environmental protection in India are: Adopting clean and renewable energy sources and implementing environmental accounting and valuation and enhancing environmental compliance and regulation. Instead of using non-renewable natural resources, use of renewable natural resources should be preferred. Waste water generated by industries should be recycled. We should use natural resources cautiously so that economic growth and ecological conservation go hand in hand. By using public transport, planting a tree, using natural products, reducing meat consumption, avoiding single-use plastics, conserving water, and educating your child about the environment, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, knowing that you are doing your part to protect the planet. By embracing sustainable practices like renewable energy development, green infrastructure, and circular economy principles, societies can achieve economic growth while preserving ecosystems and minimizing carbon emissions. One way to protect the environment is by recycling – a way to reduce the carbon footprint and conserve natural resources. It also decreases the amount of waste that goes into landfills, which causes less pollution to water bodies. Sustainable development strives to foster a balanced development between society, economy, and environment, which can be applied to government administration, business operations, and people's lives. Moreover, it helps us to break the status quo and safeguard the future of the current and future generations.